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NASB | Ecclesiastes 7:18 It is good that you grasp one thing and also not let go of the other; for the one who fears God comes forth with both of them. |
AMPLIFIED 2015 | Ecclesiastes 7:18 It is good that you take hold of one thing (righteousness) and also not let go of the other (wisdom); for the one who fears and worships God [with awe-filled reverence] will come forth with both of them. |
Subject: Balanced, centered, or lukewarm? |
Bible Note: Interesting. I wonder why Martin Luther did not choose to be a common laborer. Martin Luther King once said, "If it falls your lot to be a street sweeper, set out to sweep streets like Michelangelo painted pictures. Set out to sweep streets like Beethoven composed music. Set out to sweep streets like Shakespeare wrote poetry. Set out to sweep streets so well that all the hosts of heaven and earth will have to pause to say, ‘Here lived a great street sweeper who swept his job well’”. I wonder why Dr. King did not choose to be a street sweeper. But those were wise men. Those were great men. And it seems that each one felt the call of God to do what he did. And I would guess that neither one would spurn a turn to be a laborer or a street sweeper in a pinch. But MLK said, “If it falls your lot” and on one occasion he added “to carry it to one extreme”. I would guess that each one would say it is OK to aim higher, or at least to do some thing of a spiritual nature when you have the gift and the chance. That would provide some balance. Those men went to extremes. And there are many of us who say, “I would never do what these men did”. I have heard some to say, “I could never do what they did”. There are those who are saying now that they would not carry this conversation as far as Aixen is carrying it, or ask as hard a question. He should probably be more moderate on both counts. But the question he is asking is, how far is too far? And should we all not travel some? Must Jesus bear the cross alone And all the world go free? Some of us have sung the hymn as old Isaac Watts wrote the lines, Shall I be carried to the skies on flowery beds of ease; while others fought to gain the prize and sailed beyond the seas? And someone made it so they sailed through “bloody seas”. Would you go that far? How far would you go? How far have you gone? And how did you manage the balance? |